Saturday, November 21, 2009 - 06:58:04
Tracking swine flu
Has it peaked? Maybe. But some are still predicting a third wave. The South specifically mentioned.
Health care today
Some 1,500 uninsured people are expected to seek medical attention at a free mass clinic at the Statehouse Convention center from noon to 7 p.m. today.
It might be that, sometime during the clinic, Sen. Blanche Lincoln will cast a deciding vote on whether to let the Senate debate health reform legislation. She's been quoted as saying that the free clinic in Little Rock is a nice thing, but no solution to the country's health care problems. Indeed. But it's better than doing nothing. Remember that your friends at the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce have vigorously advocated the do-nothing course in pressing Lincoln to filibuster even the motion to open debate.
Here's a fact sheet on today's clinic that might be of interest.
Also, Brummett writes about the Halter-Lincoln political overtones of today's event. What's wrong with being a political opportunist if the result is medical attention for 1,500 people in sore need?
As a reader noted last night, however, former President Clinton will be avoiding the clinic because it has been too politicized by Keith Olbermann.
Friday, November 20, 2009 - 21:04:17
Oops. Sorry.
I forgot to open the line.
I went to a party for former Bill Clinton staffers tonight. Saw, among many blog readers, Charles Eddie Smith.
Drove past teabaggers (40 or so?) with candles outside Blanche Lincoln's office. As a Democratic employee of a.g. McDaniel noted about the day, you've got Republicans fighting like crazy to stop the expansion of heatlh care for Americans and you have Democrats providing free healthcare clinic for needy in LR tomorrow. Which is better?
Over to you.
Alderman Gaines resigns
North Little Rock Alderman Cary Gaines, who represents Ward 3, has resigned from the City Council. He confirmed to me last week that he faced federal investigation related to the indictment of an accused Cabot bookmaker and drug dealer who was also accused of trying to influence Gaines to steer city business to an unnamed contractor to generate kickbacks to repay debts owed the Cabot man by Gaines and the contractor.
Here's Gaines brief resignation letter. He had called me to say it would be coming and that he would have no further comment, on advice of his attorney, Chuck Banks.
Gaines was elected to a four-year term in 2006. The Council can fill the remainder of his four year term by appointment or special election.
Which voice will Lincoln hear?
Columnist Joe Conason, in Little Rock this week to follow Bill Clinton for a coming book, dipped into senatorial politics and found an incumbent U.S. Senator, Blanche Lincoln, looking weak rather than thoughtful. He found pressure from Lt. Gov. Bill Halter and a free health clinic and a not-thinly-veiled bit of advice from Clinton, whose political sense is pretty good.
On the very same day that Blanche Lambert Lincoln will finally vote on whether to allow healthcare reform to reach the Senate floor, thousands of the dithering Arkansas Democrat's uninsured constituents will be lining up to see doctors at a free medical clinic in Little Rock. Anticipating this remarkable coincidence, Lincoln may even realize that conservative ideologues and insurance lobbyists are not the only voices that should command her attention during this debate.
Then, recalling Clinton's speech:
Clinton asked his audience, which included hundreds of Democratic donors and activists, to imagine a scenario in which he could somehow run for a third term as president (which drew enthusiastic applause). Then he asked them to consider what would happen if he offered the following campaign promise:
"If you elect me again, the first thing I'm going to do is put a $900 billion tax on you ... I'm going to have the government print the money, and put it on elevated flatbeds, and display it along the national mall. And we're going to broadcast this ceremony on national television. And then I'm going to motor myself from one end of that $900 billion to the other, sprinkling Kerosene on it, and then I'm going to set it afire and watch it burn.
"How many people do you think would vote for me?" he demanded. "If you don't want to reform healthcare, that is your position. That is what you are advocating."
Lincoln wasn't there, but she could have heard the roaring laughter all the way back in Washington.
Midday headlines
Rock Candy, our entertainment blog, has details on cancellation of Billy Joel/Elton John concert at Verizon Arena.
Says here that FBI is taking a look at a cop's Tasering of an Ozark girl, 10, who refused to take a shower.
Jordan Johnson tweets and twitpics that students at the Clinton School of Public Service (above) are getting some words of wisdom from a sure-enough public servant.
Supreme Court watch
State Supreme Court Justice Annabelle Clinton Imber has announced her retirement, creating a position for Gov. Mike Beebe to fill by appointment for a year until an election in 2010.
How's this for an intriguing candidate for that appointment -- Bill Bowen, retired lawyer, banker, gubernatorial chief of staff, UALR law school namesake? He's a spry 86.
The governor's office isn't saying, of course. But his name is going around.
UPDATE: Hot Springs shootout
Up or down on health care
Oh, deer
The lying liars
Attn. West Fork
The line is open
St. Vincent adds neurosurgeons
Blue Cross: Mammogram coverage continues
Huckabee defends Obama
Sleazemobile arrives
Blanche drops a hint
For once, not FERCed
Access denied
Lining up for health care UPDATE
Verizon layoffs in LR
Springdale: Kid friendly
For which he stands
Profiles in courage
Halter v. Lincoln
Over the hump
Fun in the Repub primary
Save our ducks
Halter hits national TV
UAMS: Happy anniversary
2 Repubs to Mark Pryor: Up yours
Clinton's Bridge: 2010
Help for Snyder, Berry
Suffer the Arkansas poor
Ozark: Shocking place. UPDATE
New mammogram guidance
Will Lincoln oppose debate
What? No cedar outhouse bank?
Open line
You ARE being watched
More gambling options
The shame of Arkansas
Sierra Club opposes White Bluff work
You be the judge
Ozark cop Tasers 10-year-old
McDaniel ripped on West Memphis 3 work
Day of service
Ark. tax burden unfair UPDATE
Children's gets $1 million
When is gambling not gambling?
More from the Pressly jury
2nd District cool to Lincoln
Happy 5th birthday to us
Open line
Feds indict: NLR corruption UPDATE
Back to the little planes
Bad year on the farm
Lamar in football playoffs
Grover Norquist lays down the law
Will Phillips on CNN
GOP : Money talks in Senate race
Race and health care
Housing sales up UPDATE
Lottery sales move up
Snyder faces tough race
Roadside politics
A quiet dinner out
Good for GM, good for U.S.
More insight on Pressly jury
Open line
Blue Dogs and the tough issues
For the record
Putting words in mouths
While Obama dithers ...
Line's open
Dog days continue
Sexual hijinks in Washington County
Dog day
Tres magnifique
Senate candidates, please attend
Vance jury favored death
Open mic
Which judge would you vote for?
Truth, justice and the West Fork way
More Hawker Beechcraft layoffs
KFSM takes a news cruise
Pollster looks at 2nd District
Tony Alamo gets 175 years
Talk about a long goodbye
Soldier shooting suspect in court
Abortion, economy, terrorists
Brockmeier in NY Times
Yes, let's talk about charter schools
Life without parole for Pressly killer
Need a line?
The Stupak amendment
Vic Snyder on nuclear energy
Let us at that Powerball
Former sheriff gets 8 months
Halter touts free clinic
Lou Dobbs for president?
St. Vincent, Walmart team up
Five dead in Garland County fires
G-men at LuCA
Other reading to start the day
Mormons back some equal rights
Bingo!
Lincoln for her defense
Arguing the death penalty for Vance
Open line
Remembering Anne Pressly
Vance convicted in Pressly murder
The Vader clan backs Tim Griffin
Lincoln: Too far on abortion
Dithering Dems
Clinton upbeat on health debate
Arkansas blogosphere
Beebe on charters
Wal-Mart plans for Black Friday
Pressly Trial -- Tuesday Wrap-up
No mas
5 UA basketball players suspended
Pay cuts at UAMS
Pressly case nearing jury
Four dead in I-30 crash
Rose City teacher honored
Free medical clinic coming
Acxiom makes bid -- NOT
No moderates need apply to GOP
Standing small
Honoring veterans
Lottery? What lottery?
State completes Pressly case
Celebrity sidewalk
Where the action is
The abortion battle
Assessing charter schools
Pressly murder trial -- Monday wrap-up
Checking out for the night
Republican field growing
Huckabee hits the sauce
Newspaper war end trims opinions
We're dead meat
Stock prices up
Beebe announces job effort
Pressly murder trial continues UPDATED
Ross explains vote
Donald Harington death reported
No we can't
Double-dipping: not in 2010
Barnstorming with Huckabee
The line is open
Undeck those halls
Seeking more from Obama
Health bill fine print
2012 tea leaves
Ciao, y'all UPDATE
Big vote today
Health impact question UPDATE
Teacher of the Year
Another one down
UCA PR to CJRW
Buses crash near Fordyce UPDATE
Vance Trial -- Friday
The party of hate?
Stewart takes on Beck
No more buses
Qualified?
GOP health plan: Not much
Vance Trial -- UPDATE
It's about that time
Yeah, about that...
Change we can believe in
Shooting at Fort Hood UPDATE
Lincoln calling
A reversal in Lonoke case
Vance trial, day 4 UPDATE
GOP health bill is awful
Judge off the bench
A challenger
Jumper
Just not interested
Some perspective
Huck on top
Busy day...
Vance Trial: UPDATE
Night-night
Charters and desegregation
Beebe: still popular
Vance trial, day 3 UPDATE
Water board OKs land buy
Rendition convictions
Budget cuts at AHD
Another police shooting
A "Hero's" press release
Clinton, Bush to debate UPDATE
Feeling lucky?
Baker by air
Coming? GOP mid-term bounce
Nothing left to do...
Still no jury for Vance trial
One dead in police shooting
Black workers prevail
Where have all the recovery funds gone?
Remember Act One?
Flu-be-gone
Jimson weed warning
State revenues down UPDATE
Talking trash
Crushed by the weight
Obama, Lincoln to meet
Backing Baker
On the up and up?
Hold it!
Take it away
How's your economy doing?
Vance on trial UPDATE
Tax prep costing the poor
Coal for competitors
Call for free medical care
Huckabook tour
New chancellor at UAMS
Preachin' in school, settled 36 years ago
Insider trades
Stimulating
Arkansas pitchers duel
More pizza
Whatcha got?
GOP brothers at war
Opening it up
-
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
RSS Feed |
  |
| © 2004 - 07 Arkansas Times. All Rights Reserved. |  |
